Reading Challenge – A Book You Read In School

A few weeks ago I told you about a reading challenge, created by Hannah Braime, that I have undertaken to try and encourage me to read more. I must confess that I had been doing the reading challenge for a couple of months by the time I wrote that post and, by now, I have completed several of the required categories, so I apologise if you get to see a lot of posts about it in the near future, but I will try and spread out my book reviews a little bit, just so you don’t all get bored.

The first book of the challenge was set as a book I read in school. So, as I already had a copy, I decided to read Summer Of My German Soldier by Bette Greene, a book that I first read in English class around about when I was 12 or 13.

Summer Of My German Soldier is about Patty, a 12 year old Jewish Girl living in small-town Arkansas during the second world war when a group of Nazi P.O.W.s are brought to the town. One of the soldiers is not like she expected, however, and Patty becomes increasingly intrigued by this young man. The book is a coming of age tale, the tale of Patty’s increasing awareness of the nuances and ambiguities of life, her attempts to cope with parents who can’t (and won’t) understand her, and life in a small town where everything is all a little too black and white.

I remember enjoying the book more at school, but it was an interesting and thought-provoking read (although, as it’s a childrens book, sometimes it is a little on the nose). The story gets rather bleak at times, but there are rays of light, especially as Patty discovers who her real friends and family are, but you are left with the feeling that her parents need to a good shaking!